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A large mass grave from the Early Iron Age indicates selective violence towards women and children in the Carpathian Basin
Get PDFNarratives about the motivations and conditions for mass violence as a persistent feature of conflict throughout human history have evolved in complexity and materiality. Victims of these events are key for understanding the evolution and transformative power of violent behaviour as it developed from simple intergroup conflict to more strategic mass violence. Here we present the results of a bioarchaeological study of 77 and biomolecular analysis of 25 individuals from a ninth-century BCE mass grave from Gomolava in the Carpathian Basin, Southeast Europe. The site is located at the interface of complex sociospatial relations, divergent cultural traditions and values, and competing ideologies of landscape use. We show that excessive lethal violence enacted mostly on women and children suggests a selective demographic bias. The people buried together shared few, even distant, genetic relationships, and so their killing presents striking evidence for an episode of cross-regional conflict and an underlying aggressive shift in power, violence and gender relations in the region. Gomolava provides evidence consistent with deliberate annihilation of select sections of a regional population as a motivation for mass violence behaviour in later prehistoric Europe. It also shines new light on the socioeconomic agency and importance of women and young individuals in later European prehistory
Revisiting School Leadership: Indigenous Challenges to Global North Models
Get PDFThere is great interest in school leadership models, with their potential to explain and interpret leadership structures and processes. Models developed in the Global North, notably in the UK and USA, are now widely cited by scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners in many countries, including in the Global South. This article reviews the origins and development of these models, and their application in African and Asian contexts. It also examines the emergence of indigenous models, notably Ubuntu, Confucianism, and Islamic theory. The problem under scrutiny is why indigenous models appear to be neglected in the Global South, in favour of international models. These specific approaches are chosen because they have wide applicability, beyond nation-states. The paper stresses the importance of context and offers links between global and indigenous models. The topic is important and relevant given the growing concern about post-colonial influences in many Global South countries
Thermophysical Performance of BN- and KNO₃-Doped Ca(OH)₂ and Mg(OH)₂ for Medium-Temperature Thermochemical Energy Storage Applications: A Comparative Study
Get PDFPure calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, and magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, are limited in their applicability for the storage of medium-temperature heat due to their high dehydration temperatures. Modification of the hydroxides by doping with appropriate materials is a viable method for solving this problem. In this work, samples of Ca(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2 have been doped with various proportions of boron nitride (BN) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) to reduce their dehydration temperatures. The results showed that the doping processes were successfully achieved as desired, but there was a reduction in their surface areas and porosity, which could impact their thermodynamic behavior. However, the thermal analysis on the samples revealed that the KNO3 had a more positive effect on the Mg(OH)2 material than Ca(OH)2. For instance, a reduction of 23 °C in the dehydration temperature and an increase of 6% in heat storage capacity were achieved with 5 wt% KNO3-doped Mg(OH)2, thus making it applicable for heat storage in the temperature range of 293–400 °C. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on this composite material are therefore encouraged to establish its full potential
Social characteristics of children and families involved in Idiopathic Toe-Walking research; A rapid scoping review
Get PDFBackground & justification for reviewIdiopathic toe-walking is a common condition affecting children. Persistent toe walking can significantly impact physical and social quality of life. Despite known social determinants for long-term health outcomes, little is currently known about the social characteristics of children and families participating in idiopathic toe-walking research. Specific objective for reviewThis rapid scoping review aims to map the social characteristics of children participating in idiopathic toe- walking research. Search criteriaCharacteristics to be examined include age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and neurodiversity. MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, AMED & Embase were searched for quantitative and qualitative studies exploring outcomes or experiences of idiopathic toe-walking interventions. Studies excluded from inclusion were research syntheses, studies focused on children with underlying neurological, neuromuscular conditions or congenital foot deformity or those involving children aged under 2 or over 18 years Studies published in the last 20 years were included. Study appraisal & synthesis methodsSingle-reviewer study selection and data extraction were completed, with 20% independently reviewed. Studies were not appraised for quality in line with rapid scoping review methodology. Age, sex, ethnicity, socio- economic position, and neurodiversity of participants in idiopathic toe walking research were analysed using descriptive statistics. ResultsWe identified 2416 titles and 52 texts were included in the final review. The age and sex of participants were reported in most studies. Mean age of participants ranged from 3-13 years and 58% were male. Neurodiversity was reported in only 37% of studies, ethnicity was reported in 6% and socioeconomic status in only 4% texts. LimitationsIn common with many rapid scoping review methods, this review was planned and carried out in a resource- efficient manner. A focus on papers published in the past 20 years, limiting dual approaches to screening and data extraction, and the inclusion of poster and conference abstracts may have led to important study details being omitted. ConclusionsFuture research would benefit from considering both biological and social factors during data collection and reporting to avoid increasing health disparities and inefficiencies
Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in UK and Africa (RAISE) - A Tech Consultancy AI case study
Get PDFThis report presents a series of case studies developed under the Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in the UK and Africa (RAISE) project, examining how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) understand, adopt, and operationalise generative AI in practice. Drawing on in-depth qualitative engagement with participating organisations across diverse sectors, the case studies explore anticipated benefits, technical and organisational challenges, and the ethical, legal, and social considerations shaping AI integration. The RAISE case studies demonstrate how responsible AI principles are interpreted pragmatically by SMEs and illustrate the value of context-sensitive, actionable guidance in supporting responsible adoption. Collectively, the cases provide empirical insight into the realities of generative AI use in resource-constrained environments and inform the development of practical frameworks for responsible AI implementation in SMEs
Beyond the Broadcast: Enhancing VR Tennis Broadcasting through Embedded Visualizations and Camera Techniques
Get PDFVirtual Reality (VR) broadcasting has emerged as a promising medium for providing immersive viewing experiences of major sports events such as tennis. However, current VR broadcast systems often lack an effective camera language and do not adequately incorporate dynamic, in-game visualizations, limiting viewer engagement and narrative clarity. To address these limitations, we analyze 400 out-of-play segments from eight major tennis broadcasts to develop a tennis-specific design framework that effectively combines cinematic camera movements with embedded visualizations. We further refine our framework by examining 25 cinematic VR animations, comparing their camera techniques with traditional tennis broadcasts to identify key differences and inform adaptations for VR. Based on data extracted from the broadcast videos, we reconstruct a simulated game that captures the players' and ball's motion and trajectories. Leveraging this design framework and processing pipeline, we develope Beyond the Broadcast, a VR tennis viewing system that integrates embedded visualizations with adaptive camera motions to construct a comprehensive and engaging narrative. Our system dynamically overlays tactical information and key match events onto the simulated environment, enhancing viewer comprehension and narrative engagement while ensuring perceptual immersion and viewing comfort. A user study involving tennis viewers demonstrate that our approach outperforms traditional VR broadcasting methods in delivering an immersive, informative viewing experience
Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive assessments used to detect deficits in the bilateral carotid artery stenosis model for vascular cognitive impairment
Get PDFHypoperfusion via bilateral carotid artery stenosis is the most common mouse model of vascular cognitive impairment, but the literature varies surrounding which behavioural tests are most appropriate to detect cognitive deficits in this model. We aimed to address this via a systematic review and meta-analysis. We also aimed to provide a recommendation that also considers how the tests cover the different cognitive domains. We identified 1714 publications and extracted data from 56. Interestingly, only six cognitive behavioural tests were employed across the literature with the most common being the Morris water and radial arm mazes, followed by the Y maze, novel object recognition, open field, and the Barnes maze. While all examined tests were able to detect cognitive impairments in hypoperfused mice, there was a high degree of heterogeneity across the publications, highlighting that not all research groups consistently observed cognitive deficits in the model. There was also evidence of publication bias, and occasionally some publications with extremely high effect sizes were influential. We recommend all tests, but ideally experiments should be complemented with additional approaches that examine a greater range of cognitive functions
SurfON trial: study protocol for a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial of early surfactant therapy versus expectant management in late preterm and early term infants with respiratory distress
Get PDFBackground: Late preterm and early term infants are a large proportion of all births. Historically, outcomes were thought to be similar to those of full term infants, but recent evidence demonstrates worse outcomes. Although serious morbidity is less common than in very preterm infants, the impact of modest illness in large numbers of more mature neonates is significant, with 30–40% requiring neonatal unit (NNU) admission, primarily for respiratory disease. The SurfON trial aims to evaluate whether early surfactant therapy improves outcomes compared with expectant management in late preterm and early term infants with respiratory distress. The primary objectives are to compare neonatal hospital stay and incidence of severe respiratory failure, with secondary objectives assessing other perinatal outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Methods: The SurfON trial is a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial involving 45 UK NNUs, aiming to recruit 1522 infants over 30 months. Eligible infants are those born at 34+0 to 38+6 weeks’ gestation who require noninvasive respiratory support for respiratory distress within 24 h of birth. Infants are randomised in a 1:1 allocation ratio to either early surfactant therapy or expectant management. Infants randomised to the early surfactant therapy group will receive a single dose of CUROSURF®, a natural animal-derived surfactant. IMP administration reflects local site policy and procedure and may be completed by any clinician for whom this falls within their usual scope of practice, following confirmation of eligibility. The IMP is a commonly used drug in neonates and is being used in line with standard care. Side effects are uncommon and usually transient. Timing and dosage of IMP administration will be collected. Surfactant is a stock drug for all NNUs and will be administered and accounted for as per local practice. Discussion: Evidence-based guidance for the management of late preterm and early term infants is sparse, and no previous large randomised controlled trials have focused on this population. Management of respiratory distress in late preterm and early term infants varies. Some clinicians prefer early surfactant administration to prevent deterioration—78others delay treatment to avoid mechanical ventilation. This inconsistency highlights the need for trials to establish an evidence base. Unexpected neonatal morbidity and prolonged hospitalisation cause significant psychological distress for families, impacting breastfeeding and maternal well-being. High intensive care workload and associated costs pose challenges for the NHS (National Health Service). Evidence-based management could improve outcomes and reduce healthcare burdens. Trial registration: ISRCTN 15915394. Registered on 20th February 2020 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN15915394
Ecological Personhood: A Bridging Approach
Get PDFAotearoa New Zealand’s recognition of the Whanganui River as a legal person in 2017 has generated a lively debate. While advocates argue that ascribing personhood to natural entities is a powerful tool for redressing historical injustices against Indigenous peoples and for protecting the environment, critics argue that it is incompatible with Western legal and political systems. In this article, we use Thomas Hobbes’s theory of personhood to develop a novel account of ecological personhood. Hobbes explains how natural entities can be empowered to speak and act through authorized representatives, much as states, corporations, and wards do. Our Hobbesian account has three main payoffs. First, it offers a bridge between different legal orders and ontologies of nature. Second, it explains how “ecoship” is normatively different from corporate personhood and guardianship. Third, it highlights both the transformative potential of ecological persons and the ways in which they can be coopted and subverted
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